One- and Two-Photon-Activated Cysteine Persulfide Donors for Biological Targeting

J Org Chem. 2019 Sep 20;84(18):11441-11449. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.9b01224. Epub 2019 Sep 3.

Abstract

Persulfides have been considered as potential signaling compounds similar to the H2S in "S-persulfidation", a sulfur-mediated redox cycle. The research of this sulfur-mediated species is hindered because of the lack of efficient persulfide donors. In this current study, we have developed one- and two-photon-activated persulfide donors based on an o-nitrobenzyl (ONB) phototrigger, which releases the biologically active persulfide (N-acetyl l-cysteine persulfide, NAC-SSH) in a spatiotemporal manner. Next, we have demonstrated the detection of persulfide release both qualitatively and quantitatively using the well-known "turn on" fluorescence probe, that is, monobromobimane, and the trapping agent, that is, 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene, respectively. Furthermore, we examined the cytotoxicity of synthesized persulfide donors on HeLa cells and the cytoprotective ability in the highly oxidizing cellular environment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / chemical synthesis*
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cysteine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cysteine / chemical synthesis
  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • Cysteine / pharmacology
  • Cytoprotection / drug effects
  • Disulfides / chemical synthesis*
  • Disulfides / chemistry
  • Disulfides / pharmacology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Discovery / methods*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Photons*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Disulfides
  • cysteine persulfide
  • Cysteine